Tape attaching machine



Feb. 5, 1963 J. v. BERG 3,076,493

TAPE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 9JACK V. BERG BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 5, 1963 J. v. BERG 3,076,493

TAPE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8 IFIG-9 INVENTOR.

JACK V. BERG BY nn m gum ATTORNEYS United States atent 3,076,493 TAPEATTACHIN G MACHINE Jack V. Berg, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to MinnesotaMining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Oct. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 849,789 7 Claims. (Cl. 156-446)This'invention relates to a machine for attaching normally tackypressure-sensitive adhesive tape to articles and packages, etc. Moreparticularly, it relates to a tape attaching apparatus which hasparticular advantage in applying such tape to, or around, angulararticles.

The invent-ion provides a solid, two prong forked taping arm to whichguiding and adhering rotatable rollers are affixed. Said rollers serveto conduct tape into adhesive engagement with the surface of an articlebeing taped, and relative movement between these rollers and the surfaceof the article, along the surface of the article, causes the rollers toattach the tape to the surface of the article which the rollers bearagainst. The forked taping arm is pivotally attached to the supportingstructure for the machine, and the invention includes means forpermitting reciprocal movement between the taping arm and a vertical (inthe embodiment shown) axis through the central portion of the articlebeing taped during the relative movement between the taping arm and thearticle.

-In the use of the machine herein described, tape from a supply roll isbrought, with its adhesive side facing the article to be wrapped, beyonda roller (called an applying roller) on one prong of the taping arm. Thetape is brought sufliciently beyond that roller so that the peripherythereof will press the tape against the article (see FIGS. 1 and 6), andtab the lead tip of the tape to that article. A roller located on theother prong of the taping arm, called a buffing roller, follows behindthe applying roller, buffing against the non-adhesive surface of thetape, thereby attaching the tape to the article more securely. The twoprongs of the taping arm are in fixed relationship to each other (i.e.the prongs will not spread away from, or move toward each other duringuse of the machine) and the applying roller and the buff-ing roller tendto act in cooperation with each other when both rollers are urgedagainst the surface of an article being taped. That is, the pressurelbetween the article and one of the rollers is transmitted through thetaping arm to the roller at the other end of the arm, and this actionserves to inhibit the tendency of either roller to move away from thesurface of the article, or jump as either roller is moved around acorner of the article.

The present invention, and the various objectives and advantagesobtained thereby, will be apparent from the following description of theillustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference characters refer to similar parts in the correspond ing views,and in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a taping machine of this invention showingthe apparatus in position to begin attaching tape to a square article;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the tape attaching apparatusshown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5 through 9 are schematic plan views, showing successivepositions assumed by the tape applying apparatus and an article during atape attaching operation Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4, forked taping.arm 10, having prongs 11 and 12, is pivotally attached by bolt 13 toaxle 14. Axle 14 is journaled through 3,076,493 Patented Feb. 5, 1963housing .16 so that axle '14 is movable along its length within housing16, but axle 14 is prevented from rotational movement within housing 16.Housing 16 is adjustably attached to support 17 by bolts 18 and 19.Support 17 is adjustably attached to the frame of the machine, whichframe is not shown in the drawings. Pin 15 is journaled through shaft14, and springs 20 and 21 are attached at one of their ends to each ofthe opposite ends of pin 15. The other ends of each of springs 20 and 21are attached to bolts 22 and 23. Bolts 22 and 23 are afiixed to housing16, and springs 20 and 21 serve to urge axle 14 toward article A.

Axle 14 can be drawn away from article A by movement of handle 24.Handle 24 is pivotally attached to support 17 by bolt 25 and one end ofhandle 24 is pivotally attached by bolt 26 to connecting rod 27.Connecting rod 27 is attached to axle -14 by bolt 28. Bracket 29 isaffixed to support 17, and said bracket contains notches for engagementwith handle 24, to retain axle 14 in a withdrawn position when themovement of handle 24 acts to pull axle 14 in the direction away fromarticle A.

Tape applying roller 30 is rotatably attached to the end of prong 12 offorked taping arm 10, and tape buffing roller 31 is rotatably attachedto the end of prong 11 of arm 10. Platform 32 is affixed to the backside of prong 12. Platform 32 serves to support supply roll 33 of tape Tand the means for pinching and severing tape T.

Supply roll 33 of tape T is mounted on hub 34, and hub 34 is rotatableabout pin 35. Pin 35 is attached to platform 32. Pinch roller 36 isrotatably attached to platform 32 and the surface of this roller ispreferably knurled, or covered with an adhesion resistant covering,since the adhesive coated side of tape T contacts roller 36. Referencecharacter 37 designates a pinch stop. Pinch stop 37 is not rotatable,but is pivotally attached to platform 32 by bolt 38, which bolt isoffset from the center of pinch stop 37. This attachment of pinch stop37 causes the periphery thereof to move eccentrically in relationship tothe periphery of pinch roller 36. Torsion spring 39 is attached at oneend to platform 32, and at it other end to pinch stop 37. Spring 39 actsto urge pinch stop 37 in the counter-clockwise direction, when viewed asshown in FIGURE 1. This movement of pinch stop 37 on bolt 38 causes theperiphery of pinch stop 37 to contact the periphery of pinch roller 36.Tape Tis threaded from supply roll 33 between pinch stop 37 and pinchroller 36, with the non-adhesive back of tape T facing pinch stop 37,and tape T is thus retained in position and is permitted to move towardapplying roller 30, but tape T is prevented from movement toward supplyroll 33.

Pinch roller 36 and pinch stop 37 are so positioned on platform 32 thattape T extends from between them toward the periphery of applying roller30, with the nonadhesive back side of tape T positioned adjacent to, andslightly beyond, the area on the periphery of applying roller 30 whichwill first bear against the surface of an article to which tape is to beapplied. The tacky adhesive side of tape T is thus in position forattachment to the surface of the article A.

Knife 40 is affixed to one end of shaft 41. The other end of shaft 41 ispivotally attached to bolt 42, and bolt 42 is afiixed to platform 32.Rod 43 of solenoid 44 is pivotally attached at its end to shaft 41,intermediate the ends of shaft 41, by pin 45. Solenoid 44 is affixed toplatform 32 by bolts 46 and 47. As is shown in FIG- URE 3, post 48 isaflixed to solenoid 44. One end of spring 49 is attached to post 48, andthe other end of spring 49 is attached to pin 45. As is shown in FIGURE2, bolt 42 is longer than applying roller 30, and shaft 41 is attachedto the extreme end of bolt 42. When solenoid. 44 is energized, expellingrod 43 from solenoid 44, shaft ice 41 is caused to rotate about bolt 42,and shaft 41 is moved across applying roller 30, moving knife 45 againsttape T, severing the tape. When solenoid 44 is de-energized, spring 49acts to return shaft 41 and knife 40 to the rest position, whichposition is that shown in FIG- URE 1.

One end of spring 50 is attached to post 48 and the other end of spring50 is attached to axle 14.. Spring 50 acts to urge platform 32 towardaxle 14, and serves to bias taping arm 10 in its rotation on bolt 13.

Article support 60 is affixed to one end of shaft 61, and shaft 61 isrotated by a power means not shown in the drawings. Brackets 62 areattached to article support 60 by bolts 63, and brackets 62 areadjustable along the top of article support 60 in tracks 64. Brackets 62are moved against the exterior surfaces of an article A, to which tapeis to be attached, and by tightening bolts 63 the article A is held inplace on article support 60 as said article support is rotated by therotation of shaft 61. Shaft 61 may be raised or lowered so that theposition of article support 60 may be adjusted to accommodate articlesof various size. The position of applying roller 30 is also adjustable,by varying the position of support 17 on the frame of the machine (notshown) so that the portion of the article A to which tape T is to beapplied can be aligned with applying roller 30. As shown in FIGURE 4,the relative positions of article support 60 and applying roller 30 havebeen adjusted and aligned to attach tape T simultaneously to both thelid-flange and the side of a square can A.

The operation of the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 is shownschematically in FIGURES 5 through 9. FIGURE 5 shows axle 14 and tapingarm withdrawn from an article A, to which tape T is to be attached, withtape T threaded as described above. Axle 14 is held in this position byengagement of handle 24 in a notch of bracket 29, and to begin the tapeapplying and attaching operation, handle 24 is moved out of the notch,permitting springs 20 and 21 to impel axle 14 through housing 16, movingtaping arm 10 toward and against article A. The action of spring 50causes butfing roller 31 to contact the surface of article A prior tothe contact of applying roller 30 with that surface, and buffing roller31 is rolled along the surface of article A as the continued movement ofaxle 14 forces taping arm 10 to pivot on bolt 13 until applying roller30 presses against the back of tape T, and the adhesive side of tape Tis applied to the surface of article A, as is shown in FIGURE 6.

Tape T is attached to the surface of article A by rotating articlesupport 60, and thus rotating article A, in the direction shown by arrow65. The pressure of applying roller 30 against the back of tape T causesthe adhesive surface of tape T to adhere to article A, and therotational movement of article A results in the stripping of tape T fromsupply roll 33, between pinch roller 36 and pinch stop 37, to theperiphery of applying roller 30, and then to the surface of article A.As the surface of article A is moved relative to applying roller 30,tape T is attached to the surface of article A which passes adjacent toapplying roller 30. Bulfing roller 31 follows behind applying roller 30,and acts to buff tape T against article A, as is shown in FIGURE 7.

During the attaching movement, taping arm 10 is free to pivot on bolt13, against the force of spring 50, and axle 14 is permitted toreciprocate in housing 16, with and against the force of springs 20 and21. The reciprocal movement of axle is caused by springs 20 and 21 andthe movement of taping arm 10 as said taping arm is moved along thesurface of article A and is pushed away from an axis through the centralportion of article A by the surface of article A. The axis through thecentral portion of article A is an imaginary line which is alwaysparallel to the surface of article A to which tape is being attached,which line is also always at right angles to the length of the tapebeing attached to article A. The

reciprocal movement of axle 14 permits taping arm 10 to reciprocate withrespect to the axis through article A, and the reciprocal and pivotalmovement of taping arm 10 permits applying roller 30 and bufi'ing roller31 to remain in contact with the surface of article A during therelative movement between taping arm 10 and the surface of article A.This reciprocal and pivotal movement of taping arm 10 is particularlyevident as tape T is attached to, or around, a corner C of article A, asis shown in FIGURE 7.

The positioning of bufiing roller 31 and applying roller 30 at theopposite ends of forked taping arm 10 (the forks of which are fixed inrelation to each other), and the reciprocal and pivotal movement of thatarm, has par ticular advantage in that these factors permit a transmission of pressure from applying roller 30 to buffing roller 31 asapplying roller 30 passes around a corner of article A. This pressureserves to inhibit the tendency of the rollers to move away from, or jumpaway from the surface of article A at a corner C. That is, the pressurebetween bufiing roller 31 and the surface of article A is transmittedthrough taping arm 10 to applying roller 30. Thus, as applying roller 30is moved around corner C of article A, this transmitted force causestaping arm 10 to pivot on bolt 13, with the result that applying roller30 is held tightly against the successive surface of article A by thepressure between buffing roller 31 and the preceding surface of articleA. The same effect occurs when butfiug roller 31 moves around a cornerof article A.

The attached tape may be severed from the supply at any time, but, if itis desirable to completely encircle article A with tape T, articlesupport 60 is rotated until applying roller 30 is returned to theapproximate place at which tape T was first applied. Handle 2-4 is thenmoved to withdraw axle 14 into housing 16, against the force of springs20 and 21, until spring 50 moves applying roller 30 away from thesurface of article A, as is shown in FIGURE 8. During this movement,handle 24 is not moved to the extent of its stroke, but into anintermediate notch on bracket 29, so spring 50 will cause taping arm 10to pivot on bolt 13 allowing bufiing roller 31 to roll along, but stillbear against, the surface of object A. As is shown in FIGURE 8, withapplying roller 30 positioned so that there will be enough tape toprovide an overlap over the point at which tape was first applied toarticle A, solenoid 44 is energized and knife 40 is moved against tapeT, severing the tape. Solenoid 44 is then de-energized, and spring 49returns knife 40 to its rest position. Axle 14 is held by handle 24 inthe partially withdrawn position while article support 60 rotatesarticle A, and buh'ing roller 31 serves to buff the end of tape whichwas cut from the roll against article A, as is shown in FIGURE 9. Handle24 is then moved to the extent of its stroke, to withdraw axle 14 untilbufi'ing roller 31 is retracted from contact with article A. The machineis then in the position which is shown in FIGURE 5, and is ready toattach tape to another article.

As is evident from the above description of an embodiment of myinvention, variations in the operation and various modifications of mymachine can be envisioned. For example, the reciprocal movementdescribed may be achieved by mounting article A on a spring held supportwhich may move toward and away from arm 10, rather than by providingspring urged axle 14, as shown. Also, the tape applying device can berotated or moved, instead of moving the article to which tape isattached. Such variations, embodying some or all of the novel featuresherein disclosed are comprehended, and I do not intend to be limitedonly to the specific embodiment herein described, but, rather, I intendto be limited only by my disclosure taken as a whole, including theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a taping machine, a unitary two-pronged forked taping arm, saidarm being provided with guiding and adhering means at each of its endsfor conducting adhesive tape into adhesive engagement with the surfaceof an article to be taped, said arm being pivotally affixed to saidmachine at a point intermediate the ends of said arm, means beingprovided to permit reciprocal movement between said arm and an axisthrough the central portion of said article, and means for causingrelative movement between said arm and the surface of said article,along the surface of that article; reciprocal movement between said armand said axis of said article occuring during relative movement betweensaid arm and the surface of said article, said axis through said articlebeing parallel to the surface of said article to which tape is to beapplied and at right angles to the length of the tape to be applied tothe surface of said article.

2. In a machine for attaching adhesive tape to an article, a unitarytwo-pronged forked taping arm, a roller rotatably afirxed to each end ofsaid arm, said rollers being adapted to conduct tape into adhesiveengagement with the surface of an article to which tape is to beattached, said arm being pivotally aifixed intermediate its ends to areciprocable member supported on said machine, means for impel-ling saidreciprocatable member and said arm toward an article and means forcausing relative movement between said arm and said article, along thesurface of said article.

3. In a machine for attaching adhesive tape to an article, a unitarytwo-pronged forked taping arm having a rotatable roller affiXed to eachof its ends for engagement against the non-adhesive surface of tapebeing attached to said article, to apply and buif said tape to thesurface of said article, said arm being pivotally affixed intermediatesaid rollers to a reciprocable member supported on said machine, meansfor impelling said reciprocable memher and said arm toward said article,and means for causing rotational movement of said article as saidrollers bear against the surface thereof.

4. A machine for attaching adhesive tape to an article, said machinecomprising a supporting structure, applying means, means for permittingreciprocal movement between said applying means and an axis through thecentral portion of an article to which tape is to be attached, and meansfor providing relative movement between said applying means and thesurface of said article, along the surface of said article; saidapplying means including a unitary two-pronged forked taping arm, saidarm being provided with guiding and adhering means at each of its endsfor conducting adhesive tape into adhesive engagement with the surfaceof said article, said taping arm being pivotally affixed intermediateits ends to said supporting structure; reciprocal movement between saidarm and said axis of said article occurring during relative movementbetween said arm and the surface of said article, said axis of saidarticle being parallel to the surface of said article to which tape isto be attached and at right angles to the length of the tape to beattached to said article.

5. A machine for attaching adhesive tape to an article, said machinecomprising a supporting structure, applying means, means supported onsaid supporting structure for permitting reciprocal movement of saidapplying means and means for providing relative movement between saidapplying means and the surface of an article to which tape is to beattached, along the surface of said article; said applying meansincluding a unitary two-pronged forked taping arm having at least oneroller rotatably affixed to each end of said arm, said rollers beingadapted to conduct tape into adhesive engagement with the surface of anarticle to which tape is to be attached, said arm being pivotallyafiixed intermediate its ends to said reciprocal means for reciprocalmovement of said arm during relative movement between said arm and thesurface of said article.

6. A machine for attaching adhesive tape to an article, said machinecomprising a supporting structure, applying means, reciprocal means forpermitting reciprocal movement of said applying means, and means forproviding rotational movement of an article to which tape is to beattached as said applying means contacts the surface of said article;said applying means including a unitary twopronged forked taping armhaving a rotatable roller aihxed to each of its ends for engagementagainst the non-adhesive surface of tape being attached to said article,to apply and buff said tape to the surface of said article; said armbeing pivotally aflixed intermediate said rollers to said reciprocalmeans for reciprocal movement of said arm during rotational movement ofsaid article.

7. A machine for attaching adhesive tape to an article, said machinecomprising a supporting structure, applying means, means for permittingreciprocal movement of said applying means, means for providingrotational movement of an article to which tape is to be attached assaid applying means contacts the surface of said article, means forretaining a supply of tape to be attached to said article, saidretaining means including means for preventing the movement of said tapetoward said supply, means for severing said tape after it has beenattached to said article, and means for withdrawing said applying meansfrom contact with said article; said applying means including a unitarytwo-pronged forked taping arm having a rotatable roller aflixed to eachof its ends for engagement against the nonaadhesive surface of tape toapply and bufi said tape to the surface of said article, said taping armbeing pivotally afiixed intermediate said rollers to said means forpermitting reciprocal movement of said arm, reciprocal movement of saidarm being induced by rotational movement of said article as said rollersbear against tape on the surface thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,199,033 Strauss Apr. 30, 1940 2,524,946 Von Hofe Oct. 10, 19502,549,136 Simpson et a1. Apr. 17, 1951 2,653,727 Wagner et a1 Sept. 29,1953 2,799,419 Scheib July 16, 1957 2,841,305 Werner July 1, 19582,873,039 Powel Feb. 10, 1959

1. IN A TAPING MACHINE, A UNITARY TWO-PRONGED FORKED TAPING ARM, SAIDARM BEING PROVIDED WITH GUIDING AND ADHERING MEANS AT EACH OF ITS ENDSFOR CONDUCTING ADHESIVE TAPE INTO ADHESIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURFACEOF AN ARTICLE TO BE TAPED, SAID ARM BEING PIVOTALLY AFFIXED TO SAIDMACHINE AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID ARM, MEANS BEINGPROVIDED TO PERMIT RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ARM AND AN AXISTHROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID ARTICLE, AND MEANS FOR CAUSINGRELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ARM AND THE SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE,ALONG THE SURFACE OF THAT ARTICLE; RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ARMAND SAID AXIS OF SAID ARTICLE OCCURING DURING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEENSAID ARM AND THE SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE, SAID AXIS THROUGH SAID ARTICLEBEING PARALLEL TO THE SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE TO WHICH TAPE IS TO BEAPPLIED AND AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE LENGTH OF THE TAPE TO BE APPLIED TOTHE SURFACE OF SAID ARTICLE.